Trade Development Director Jobs in Nebraska (NOW HIRING)

Are you the type of sales professional who enjoyes turning untapped opportunities into long-term customer partnerships? Lester Electrical is investing in growth and looking for a Business Growth Manager to expand our presence across industrial, OEM, and distribution markets.  In this role, you'll have the freedom to build relationships, create new opportunities, and directly influence the company's growth trajectory.

This role is ideal for a proactive hunter who enjoys building pipelines, pursuing opportunities, and converting prospects into long-term customers. The Business Growth Manager will focus primarily on identifying and securing new business opportunities while maintaining ownership of customer relationships through onboarding and early growth stages.

Why join our crew?

• Flexible hybrid office / remote work schedule possibility
• Positive, collaborative and down-to-earth team culture
• Competitive base salary and benefits plus performance-based incentive plan.  Total compensation commensurate with experience and demonstrated success
• Opportunity to make a visible impact in a growing company  
• Stable manufacturing environment with long-term growth potential
• Play a direct role in shaping market expansion strategies
• Work closely with leadership and decision-makers
• International exposure with leading customers and partners
• Leadership team that values initiative, accountability, and practical decision-making
• Join a growing company with more than 60 years of industry leadership
• Employee-Owned (ESOP) - when the company succeeds, employees share that success

                      

Position Summary

Reporting to the Sales & Marketing Director, the Business Growth Manager is responsible for driving new customer acquisition and expanding market presence across key industrial and manufacturing segments.

The primary focus of this role is business development, prospecting, pipeline development, and revenue growth. This individual will identify high-potential opportunities, develop strategic relationships, and secure new distribution, OEM, and manufacturing business.  This role will also provide market intelligence and growth insights that help shape future business development priorities.

Unlike traditional account management roles that focus primarily on maintaining established business, this position is designed for a highly motivated professional who is energized by creating new opportunities and expanding market reach.

Required Qualifications:

1. 5+ years of successful B2B sales, business development, or customer acquisition experience, preferably in manufacturing or industrial markets
2. Proven success generating new business through prospecting, networking, relationship development, and strategic outreach
3. Demonstrated ability to build trust quickly and convert prospects into long-term customer relationship
4. Strong business acumen with the ability to identify customer needs and growth opportunities
5. Ability to travel typically ranging 25-40% (higher during periods of customer development, trade shows, or strategic growth initiatives)

Preferred Qualifications:

1. Experience with Distributors, Manufacturers' Representatives, and/or OEM customers
2. Ability to understand and communicate technical product capabilities and customer requirements
3. Self-motivated, highly driven, and results-oriented with strong organizational skills
4. Strong verbal, written and presentation skills
5. Experience using CRM platforms such as Salesforce, HubSpot, Microsoft Dynamics, NetSuite, or similar systems to manage pipeline activity and forecasting
6. Bachelor’s degree in related field 

 Work Relationships

This position reports to the Sales & Marketing Director and works closely with technical services, engineering, operations, finance, and customer support to deliver exceptional customer experiences and support profitable growth initiatives.

Essential Job Functions

1. Identify, pursue, and secure new distribution, OEM, and manufacturing customers
2. Develop and manage a healthy pipeline of qualified opportunities through proactive outreach, networking, referrals, trade shows, and market development activities
3. Drive new revenue growth through strategic prospecting and relationship development
4. Develop account entry strategies and customer growth plans for targeted opportunities
5. Lead customer onboarding and support early-stage account growth and relationship development
6. Coordinate internally to deliver quotations, technical recommendations, product launches, and customer support  
7. Monitor market trends, competitive activity, and customer needs, providing actionable feedback to leadership
8. Represent the company at trade shows, conferences, and industry associations
9. Maintain accurate pipeline activity, forecasting, and customer information within CRM systems
10. Partner cross-functionally to ensure strong execution, customer satisfaction, and long-term business success

Apply

Ready to make a visible impact in a growing employee-owned company?  We'd love to hear from you.  Submit your resume and a brief introduction to our Sales & Marketing Director and tell us how you've successfully built new business relationships and driven growth.

JillA@LesterElectrical.com. Confidential inquiries are welcome.

Any job offer will be contingent upon passing a pre-employment drug & alcohol screen and background check. Apply now to elevate your career in a growing industry with limitless potential.

Lester Electrical is an equal opportunity employer, committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace and does not discriminate against employees or job applicants on the basis of protected classes. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran or disability status